University’s VIP Center addresses sexual assault after recent arrests

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Two 18-year-olds charged in connection to an alleged rape on February 18th in a dorm room on the University of Kentucky’s campus are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 17th.

The University of Kentucky released a statement that says Angus Thompson and Addison Adkins turned themselves into the Lexington Police Department Monday after UK Police issued warrants for their arrests.

Court records show Thompson is charged with rape and Adkins is charged with rape and strangulation. Both are suspended from the University and banned from campus.

According to UK, Adkins is no longer a student, and Thompson remains suspended.

“To the folks that are feeling uneasy or on edge about this, I want to validate that those are valid feelings,” Lenzi Dodgen, acting director of the Violence Intervention and Prevention center said.

Dodgen says when crime bulletins are issued on campus, it can spark fear. That fear can help initiate action and awareness.

“So once someone has reported to police, then the police department would make a determination as to whether or not the incident needs to rise to the level of a crime bulletin,” she said.

In this case, a crime bulletin was sent to students and staff. Now, Dodgen and the VIP Center want people to know the resources that people can go to if they’ve experienced something similar.

“I want folks to know that if they have had an unwanted and unwelcome sexual experience, they can come to talk to us about that,” she said.

She adds that it’s important to be supportive for survivors and use your voice for good.

“I think we all want a safer and violence-free campus,” Dodgen said.